For every tree felled by the road widening project at the Maharlika Highway Pili, Camarines Sur 100 new ones will be planted.

This was the assurance of Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Arnel Rodriguez of Camarines Sur during the Public Consultation regarding the road widening project by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) last week.

Since the public approved the road widening of the four-kilometer stretch of road from San Jose to Palestina, Pili it would only be imperative to replace the affected 789 trees by planting various species at an identified site in the said town. A 1:100 trees ratio will be adopted by the DENR and DPWH in the replacement of the would-be-lost trees Rodriguez explained.

For this, he tapped the student council president of the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) to take the lead in the tree planting efforts aimed at replacing trees felled for the road widening project.

“There’ll be an agreement signed for and in between the DENR and the DPWH as regards the replacement of trees, and all aspects will be dealt by the accord for a win-win situation,” Forest Resources Conservation Division Chief Jerry Adviento emphasized.

Once the trees are cut, it will be turned-over to DENR, and will be donated in order of priority: the Department of Education for raw materials in the fabrication of desks and chairs, the DPWH for its construction projects, and the local government of Pili.

DENR Bicol Regional Executive Director Gilbert Gonzales is optimistic about this new development which would prove to be more advantageous to the residents and would accelerate DENR’s greening effort with a 1:100 trees replacement ratio.

According to Forester Adviento trees along the Maharlika Highway were planted during the ‘70s under the government’s effort to provide a carbon sink for vehicle emissions.